WASHINGTON (AP) -- If Israeli were to make a pre-emptive attack
on Iran's nuclear sites, it could draw the U.S. into a new Mideast
conflict.

That's a prospect dreaded by a war-weary Pentagon because it
could mean pressing into service the top tier of American firepower
-- warplanes, warships and special operations forces.

The outcome would be unpredictable in one of the world's most
volatile regions.

An armed clash with Iran is far from certain. Diplomacy backed
by increasingly tough economic penalties is still seen by many as
worth pursuing.

But Israel worries that Iran soon could reach a point where
enough of its nuclear materials are beyond the reach of Israeli air
power and Tehran could not be stopped -- or perhaps could be stopped only by America's superior firepower.